Alt Attribute & Seo

SEO Optimization images has become increasingly more essential in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for websites. The ALT attribute is really a critical step that is sometimes forgotten. This can be a lost chance of better rankings.

In Google's webmaster guidelines, they advise using alternative text for the images in your web site:

Images:. Make use of the alt attribute to supply descriptive text. Additionally, we recommend utilizing a human-readable caption and descriptive text around the image.

Why would they ask us to achieve that? The answer is simple, really; search engines like google have a similar problem as blind users. They cannot see the images.

Many webmasters and inexperienced or unethical SEOs abuse the use of this attribute, attempting to stuff it with keywords, hoping to achieve a particular keyword density, which is not as relevant for rankings now as it once was.

On the other hand, high keyword density can, on some search engines like google, trigger spam filters, which might result in a penalty for the site's ranking. Even without this type of penalty, your site's rankings will not benefit from this plan.
This method also puts persons who use screen readers at a greater disadvantage. Screen readers are software-based tools that actually read aloud the contents of what is displayed on the screen. In browsing the web, the alt attributes of images are read aloud too.

Imagine hearing a paragraph of text that is then repetitions of many keywords. The page will be far from accessible, and, to put it bluntly, would be found quite annoying.
What exactly is an Alt attribute?

An ALT attribute should not be used as a description or a label for an image, though many people use it for the reason that fashion. Though it might seem natural to assume that alternate text is really a label or perhaps a description, it's not!

What used inside an image's alt attribute ought to be its text equivalent and convey exactly the same information or serve the same purpose that the image would.

The thing would be to provide the same functional information that the visual user would see. The alt attribute text should function as a "stand in" in the event that the look itself is not available. Think about this question: If you were to replace the look with the text, would most users get the same basic information, and would it generate the same response?
A few examples:

 

Some SEO Optimization Tips

If a search button is a magnifier or binoculars its alt text should be 'search' or 'find' not 'magnifying glass' or 'binoculars'.

If the image is supposed to convey the literal contents of the look, then a description is suitable.

If it is designed to convey data, then that information is what is appropriate.

If it is meant to convey the use of a function, then the function is what should be used.

Some Alt Attribute Guidelines:

Always add alt attributes to images. Alt is mandatory for accessibility and for valid XHTML.

For images that play merely a decorative role within the page, use an empty alt (i.e. alt="") or a CSS background image so that reading browsers do not bother users by uttering things like "spacer image".

Remember that it's the function from the image we're trying to convey. For example; any button images should not range from the word "button" in the alt text. They should emphasize the action performed through the button.

Alt text should be based on context. Exactly the same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text.

Try to flow alt text with the remainder of the text because that is the way it will be read with adaptive technologies like screen readers. Someone listening to your page should hardly be aware that a graphic image is there.
Please keep in mind that utilizing an alt attribute for each image is needed to meet the minimum WAI requirements, that are used since the benchmark for accessibility laws in UK and also the rest of Europe. Also, they are required to meet "Section 508" accessibility requirements in america.

It is useful to categorize non-text content into three levels:

Eye-Candy
Mood-Setting
Content and Function

I. Eye-Candy

Eye-Candy are things that serve no purpose other than to create a site visually appealing/attractive and (oftentimes) satisfy the marketing departments. There isn't any content value (though there may be value to a sighted user).

Never alt-ify eye-candy unless there is something there which will enhance the usability of the site for somebody utilizing a non-visual user agent. Make use of a null alt attribute or background images in CSS for eye-candy.

II. Mood-Setting

This is the middle layer of graphics which might actually set the atmosphere or set the stage as it were. These graphics are not direct content and could 't be considered essential, but they're important in they help frame what's going on.

Attempt to alt-ify the second group as makes sense and is relevant. There may be instances when doing this may be annoying or detrimental with other users. Then avoid it.

For example; Alt text that's identical to adjacent text is unnecessary, and an irritant to screen reader users. I recommend alt="" or background CSS images in such cases. But sometimes, it's important to understand this content in there for those users.

Usually it depends on context. The same image in a different context may need drastically different alt text. Obviously, content ought to always be fully available. How you go in this case is a judgment call.

III. Content and Function

This is where the image may be the actual content. Always alt-ify content and functional images. Title and long description attributes can also be so as.
The main reason many authors can't understand why their alt text isn't working is that they don't know why the pictures are there. You have to figured out precisely what function a picture serves. Think about what it's about the image that's important to the page's intended audience.

Every graphic includes a reason behind standing on that page: because it either improves the theme/ mood/ atmosphere or it is critical to what are the page is trying to explain. Understanding what the image is perfect for makes alt text simpler to write. And practice writing them definitely helps.
A method to look into the usefulness of alternative text is to imagine reading the page on the phone to someone. An amount you say when encountering a specific image to create the page understandable to the listener?

Aside from the alt attribute you've got a couple more tools available for images.
First, in degree of descriptiveness title is in between alt and longdesc. It adds useful information and may add flavor. The title attribute is optionally rendered through the user agent. Remember they're invisible and not shown like a "tooltip" when focus is received through the keyboard. (A lot for device independence). So use the title attribute only for advisory information.
Second, the longdesc attribute points towards the URL of a full description of an image. When the information contained in a picture is important to the concept of the page (i.e. some important content will be lost if the image was removed), an extended description than the "alt" attribute can reasonably display ought to be used. It can provide for rich, expressive documentation of a visual image.

It ought to be used when alt and title are insufficient to embody the visual qualities of an image. As Clark [1] states, "A longdesc is really a long description of the image...The aim is by using any period of description essential to impart the facts from the graphic.

It would not be remiss to hope that a long description conjures a picture - the image - within the mind's eye, an analogy that is true even for that totally blind."

Even though alt attribute is mandatory for web accessibility and for valid (X)HTML, not all images need alternative text, long descriptions, or titles.

In many cases, you're best just going with your gut instinct -- if it's not essential to incorporate it, and if you don't possess a strong urge to get it done, don't add that longdesc.

However, if it's essential for the whole page to operate, then you've to include the alt text (or title or longdesc).

What's necessary and what's not depends a lot about the function of your image and it is context about the page.

The same image may require alt text (or title or longdesc) in one spot, but not in another. If an image provides simply no content or functional information alt="" or background CSS images might be appropriate to make use of. But if the image provides content or adds functional information an alt would be required and perhaps a long description will be so as. In many cases this kind of thing is really a judgement call.

Image Seo optimization Tips

Listed below are key steps in optimizing images:

Choose a logical file name that reinforces the keywords. You can use hyphens within the file name to isolate the keyword, but avoid to exceeding two hyphens. Stay away from underscores as a word separator, such as "brilliant-diamonds.jpg";

Label the file extension. For example, when the image search engine sees a ".jpg" (JPEG) file extension, it's likely to assume the file is a photo, and when it sees a ".gif" (GIF) file extension, it's likely to assume that it is a graphic;

Ensure that the text at the image that's highly relevant to that image.
Again, do not lose a great opportunity to help your website with your images searching engines. Begin using these steps to rank better on all the engines and drive increased traffic for your site TODAY.